The Crown tells former Toronto drug squad officers convicted in a landmark corruption trial it is appealing their sentences of 45 days house arrest.

The Crown has notified former Toronto drug squad officers convicted of perjury and attempting to obstruct justice in the city’s landmark corruption trial it is appealing their sentences of 45 days house arrest.

Lawyers for three former members of the elite Team 3 of Central Field Command — Ned Maodus, 49, Raymond Pollard, 48, and Steven Correia, 45 — confirmed Monday their clients have either been served or told they will be served notices of appeal.

Peter Brauti, lawyer for Joseph Miched, 54, said he had not seen the notice but has been told it is coming.

Alan Gold, lawyer for John Schertzer, 55, who led the drug squad, was not available for comment.

All five defendants already filed notices appealing their convictions. They were found guilty by a jury last June of attempting to obstruct justice for conducting a warrantless search of a heroin dealer’s apartment in 1998 and then covering it up.

Three of the five, Pollard, Maodus and Correia, were also convicted of perjury for lying in court about the search.

Earl Levy, Pollard’s lawyer, said the Crown will likely have a hard time appealing the 45-day conditional sentences.

“The judge gave sound reasons,” Levy said.

Although Ontario Superior Court Justice Gladys Pardu said their convictions should not be taken lightly, she detailed the “horrendous times” the accused experienced since being charged in 2004, Levy said.

“They in fact had served what amounted to a sentence before the trial even started,” Levy said.

“All the media coverage of it — and there was immense coverage over 10 or so years — was virtually negative and it really impacted their lives,” he said.

The Crown asked for four years in jail for Schertzer and three years for the four other offenders. The defence asked for suspended sentences, conditional sentences or discharges.

Patrick Ducharme, Maodus’s lawyer, said he has been informed his client will be served Tuesday, and understands the Crown is appealing all five sentences.

Brendan Crawley, spokesman for Ontario’s attorney general, said it would be inappropriate to comment.